Water Filtration System Installation in Portland, OR
Know what's in your water first, then pick the filter that solves that problem without choking your water pressure.
Start With What's in Your Water
A filter should solve a problem you can name. In Portland, most homes on city water get Bull Run water, which the Portland Water Bureau describes as soft, at about half a grain of hardness per gallon. The bureau also has a groundwater supply from the Columbia South Shore Well Field that is moderately hard, about 5 grains per gallon, but it runs only as a supplemental or emergency source. So a softener sold to fix "Portland hard water" is usually solving a problem you don't have.
What people on city water usually want to fix is the taste or smell of the disinfectant, sediment after street or service line work, or worry about older plumbing inside the house. The water leaves the city's system essentially lead free, and the bureau says lead in Portland tap water comes from home plumbing, mainly lead solder used on copper pipe before 1985 and brass faucets installed before 2014. If that's your worry, order the free lead test through the LeadLine at 503-988-4000 before buying a filter, and check the bureau's Bull Run and groundwater test results for the rest.
A private well is different. The water quality is your responsibility, and well water can carry sediment, iron, hardness or bacteria you can't see or taste. Get a lab test first, then choose a filter for what the test shows.
Whole-House or Under-Sink Filtration
If your concern is the water you drink and cook with, a filter under the kitchen sink usually handles it. Some use your regular faucet and some get a small drinking tap of their own. If you notice the problem at every tap, in the shower, or as sediment in fixtures and appliances, a whole-house filter on the main line where it enters the house makes more sense.
Many homes do both: a whole-house sediment or carbon filter for every tap, plus a finer filter at the kitchen sink for drinking water. Whatever you pick, check that it's certified for the specific thing you want removed, since the Water Bureau notes that not every filter reduces lead.
Check Your Plumbing Before You Choose
A whole-house filter has to fit the space and the flow. If pressure is already weak when the kitchen faucet and a shower run together, an undersized filter will make it worse, so mention that when you call and the filter gets sized to protect the flow you have. You also need room on the main line for the housings and for someone to change cartridges later.
In some older homes the metal water line is part of the electrical grounding. Portland's plumbing permit guidance warns that replacing a metal water line with plastic may also need an electrical permit and a new grounding electrode, so if a filter will cut into a copper or galvanized main, ask how the ground will be kept continuous. Ask too whether your job needs a plumbing permit and whether the fee is in the price. An under-sink filter usually doesn't touch either issue.
Not sure which filter fits your house?
Call (503) 594-4779. We answer 24 hours a day.
When a Filter Isn't the Fix
Some water problems come from the house, not the water. Rusty or brown water from the hot side only usually points to the water heater, not the supply. Low pressure or discolored water in an old house with galvanized pipe often means the pipe itself is corroding inside, and a filter won't change that. A sulfur smell from the hot water only is often the water heater too. We'll tell you if what you're describing is one of these before you spend money on a filter.
What Happens During Installation
You get one price before work starts, and that's the price at the end of the job. A photo of the main line where it enters the house, or the cabinet under the kitchen sink, is often enough to price the job before we come out. On install day, clear the space around the main line or under the sink. For an under-sink system, the water is off only at that sink. For a whole-house system, the water is off at the main while the line is cut and the filter housings go in with shutoff and bypass valves so cartridges can be changed without draining the house.
Once the water is back on, the new cartridges get flushed per the manufacturer's directions and every fitting is checked for drips. Check the fittings again the next day, and write the install date on the housing so you know when a change is due. Wild Pine Plumbing is licensed, bonded and insured under Oregon CCB #249970. Military members, first responders and seniors get 10% off, and our Portland plumbing repairs and installs cover the rest of the house.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about water filtration system installation in Portland
Does Portland city water need a softener or a filter for hard water?
Usually not on Bull Run water. The Portland Water Bureau reports Bull Run water at about half a grain of hardness per gallon, which is soft. The bureau's backup groundwater supply is moderately hard, about 5 grains per gallon, but it's used only when needed. Test before buying anything for scale.
Will a water filter remove lead?
Only if it's certified to. The Portland Water Bureau says not all filters reduce lead and points people to NSF International to check a filter's certification. In Portland, lead in tap water comes from home plumbing, like lead solder used on copper pipe before 1985 and brass fixtures installed before 2014. A free test through the LeadLine at 503-988-4000 tells you whether you have a problem.
How often do filter cartridges need changing?
It depends on the filter and how much water the house uses, so follow the manufacturer's schedule. Write the install date on the housing or in your phone so you know when a change is due.
Get a Filter Installation Price Before We Start
Call (503) 594-4779 and send a photo of your main line where it enters the house. We answer 24 hours a day.
Ask about our 10% discount for Military, First Responders & Seniors.